TAXIS OCCUPIED TAXIS TAXIS on the ROAD the on TAXIS Any Single15-Minuteinterval)

2014 Taxicab Fact Book

The Taxicab Fact Book was last published in 2006 by Schaller Consulting. Since then, many changes have occurred, allowing us to take a new look at how yellow taxis operate in New York City. The largest change has been the introduction of the Taxi Passenger Enhancement Program (TPEP), a technology initiative which introduced credit card readers to all taxis in 2008. Along with this came the collection of electronic trip-sheet data, replacing handwritten paper trip -sheets with independent records including information on pick-up and drop-off times and locations and itemized fare amounts. With the new TPEP data, we are able to take a look at taxi patterns from all taxis without having to rely on samples of trip-sheets.

The 2014 Taxicab Fact Book is a quick look at the state of the yellow taxi industry (with a brief look at the other for-hire vehicle industries). This will be the first in a regular summary of taxi trends in New York City. Not only does the 2014 Fact Book contain updated statistics on total trips and fares, but it also provides unique looks at trip patterns by borough, shifts and taxi availability, and driver and passenger demographics. ails i Stand H ax et T e t r r t o

YELLOW TAXIS p BORO TAXIS

i A

Anywhere There are 13,437 medallions, the right to run a yellow taxi For more on medallions, see p 12

A typical taxi travels 70,000 miles per year, enough to travel around the world 2.8 times Boro Taxis were created as a new class of license in 2012 to provide legal, yellow-caliber taxi service to the boroughs, The average age of a taxi vehicle is 3.3 years since 94% of yellow taxi pick-ups occur either in Manhattan or at one of the airports.

60% of taxi vehicles are hybrid-electric vehicles and 2% of taxi vehicles are wheelchair-accessible

Trips: 485,000 per day | 175 MILLION per year For more on trips, see p 3-6 Boro Taxis are a hybrid service, providing both and prearranged for-hire vehicle services. The are over 50,000 drivers For more on drivers, see p 9-10

A typical driver shift is 9.5 hours For more on shifts, see p 8 18,000 Boro Taxi permits are being issued in three groups of Passengers: 600,000 per day | 236 MILLION per year For more on passengers, see p 11 6,000. The first group of 6,000 has been sold, with the second issuance planned for June 2014.

Models of Operation Fleets Run garages that own and operate many taxis Drivers lease the taxi on a daily or weekly basis Boro Taxis are not permitted to pick up passengers in The lease fee is capped according to TLC regulations Manhattan below E 96th Street or W 110th Street serve airport taxi queues Driver-Owned Vehicles (DOV) Driver conditionally owns the car but leases the medallion from an agent who manages it for an owner

Individual Owner-Operators Driver owns car and medallion and is required to drive at least 210 shifts per year Boro Taxi Service Areas For more on Boro Taxis, including new facts on a brand new service, check out the next Taxicab Fact Book!

Regulations BRONX Street hails or e-hails anywhere in NYC West 110 Street MANHATTAN East 96 Street Accessible vehicles are required to participate in Accessible Dispatch program LGA

TLC sets rate of fare QUEENS Specific vehicle standards (TLC inspection 3 times per year) BROOKLYN Closed entry with a fixed supply For more on inspections, see p 13 JFK

Drivers must be able to read, speak, and understand English STATEN ISLAND

1 ails nged nged t H a a e rr rr e a a r e e t r r

S OTHER FOR HIRE VEHICLES (FHVs)

P P

in Boro Zone in Boro Zone Anywhere

Liveries (also known as Car Services or Community Cars) Provide for-hire service by pre-arrangement Boro Taxis were created as a new class of license in 2012 For more on yellow trips to provide legal, yellow-caliber taxi service to the boroughs, by borough, see p 5-6 Around 500 base stations located throughout the five boroughs of yellow taxi pick-ups occur either in Manhattan About 25,000 vehicles Vehicles must be affiliated with a base Average age of vehicles is about 7 years Passengers: about 500,000 per day Fare: set by base and varies by neighborhood Boro Taxis are a hybrid service, providing both street-hail for-hire vehicle services. Regulations Trip must be prearranged via bases Street hailing not permitted Wide variety of vehicle types (TLC inspection once every 2 years) Open entry For more on inspections, see p 13 Boro Taxi permits are being issued in three groups of . The first group of 6,000 has been sold, with the second Black Cars Provide service mostly for corporate clients, setting fares by contracts with clients

Around 80 base stations located throughout the five boroughs About 10,000 vehicles Boro Taxis are not permitted to pick up passengers in Vehicles must be affiliated with a base W 110th Street or to Average age of vehicles is about 5.5 years

Regulations Prearranged contracted service, 90% non-cash basis Wide variety of vehicle types (TLC inspection once every 2 years) Open entry For more on inspections, see p 13

For more on Boro Taxis, including new facts on a brand new service, check out the next Taxicab Fact Book! Other Industries Luxury Limousines Paratransit Provide chartered service Provide transportation for healthcare facilites About 7,000 vehicles About 2,000 vehicles Over 200 companies Over 200 paratransit providers

Commuter Vans Provide service for passengers along fixed routes About 500 vehicles Around 50 van authorizations

2014 Taxicab Fact Book 2 700,000

600,000 597,327 593,094

500,000

400,000

300,000

200,000

100,000 72,019 DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN 2009 2010 2011

Yellow taxis provide an average of 485,000 trips/day

The average trip distance is 2.6 miles

20% of all trips are less than 1 mile (about 20 Manhattan blocks) 20% 99% of all trips are less than 12 miles

10%

0% < ½ 20+ ½ to1 <½ 1 to 1 ½ < 1 ½ to2 <1 ½ 7 to 7 ½ < 4 to 4 ½ < 6 ½ to7 <6 ½ 7 ½ to8 <7 ½ 4 ½ to5 <4 ½ 2 to 2 ½ < 3 ½ to4 <3 ½ 2 ½ to3 <2 ½ 11to11 < ½ 5 to 5 ½ < 5 ½ to6 <5 ½ 8 ½ to9 <8 ½ 9 to 9 ½ < 6 to 6 ½ < 3 to 3 ½ < 8 to 8 ½ < 11< ½ to 12 10< ½ to 11 9 ½ to10 <9 ½ 17to17 < ½ 14to14 < ½ 16< ½ to 17 12to12 < ½ 17< ½ to 18 14< ½ to 15 13< ½ to 14 12< ½ to 13 15to15 < ½ 15< ½ to 16 19to19 < ½ 16to16 < ½ 13to13 < ½ 18< ½ to 19 18to18 < ½ 10to10 < ½ 19 ½ to <19 ½ to 20 Trip Distance

3 Daily Trips

591,464 12/2008 to 11/2013

113,794

MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP29,092 OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV 2012 2013

Days with fewer than 350,000 trips can be explained by either holidays or major weather events The most trips between 2008 and 2013 occurred on HOLIDAYS December 11, 2009, a Friday. Years with under 350,000 trips New Year’s Day 2009 2011 2012 2013 Memorial Day 2009 2010 2012 2013 Independence Day 2009 20102011 2013 Labor Day 2009 2010 2012 2013 Other top days include Thanksgiving 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Christmas 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 February 12, 2011 & February 11 2012, no data both Saturdays around Valentine’s Day

WEATHER EVENTS Most significant events Date Trips Average daily taxi usage is typically highest Blizzard 12/27/2010 72,019 in the spring months and lowest in the summer months Hurricane Irene 8/28/2011 29,029 Superstorm Sandy 10/29/2012 113,794

MONTHS WITH HIGHEST & LOWEST AVERAGE DAILY TRIPS HIGH LOW 2008 DEC 2009 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 2010 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 2011 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 2012 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 2013 JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV no data

2014 Taxicab Fact Book 4 Average TotalPick-upsandDrop-offsbyTimeofDay BORO BY TRENDS TRIP Source: NYC TLC TPEP Trip-sheet data, 2012 data, Trip-sheet TPEP TLC NYC Source: 8,000 8,000 6,000 6,000 3,000 3,000 5,000 5,000 2,000 2,000 4,000 4,000 7,000 7,000 1,000 1,000 5 O U E H R A SUN SAT FRI THU WED TUE MON SUN SAT FRI THU WED TUE MON 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM (15-minute increments) 4 AM 4 AM STATEN ISLAND 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM

8 AM 8 AM MANHATTAN

12 PM 12 PM BROOKLYN 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM BRONX

4 AM 4 AM LGA 8 AM 8 AM QUEENS 12 PM 12 PM

4 PM 4 PM JFK

8 PM 8 PM PICK-UPS DROP-OFFS boroughs areevenhigherthanforpick-ups. Taxitrips Weekly peaksinthepercentageoftripsending outer any givenpointintimeduringtheweek. average, donotmakeupmorethan1%ofalltripsat all trips.Pick-upsintheBronxandStatenIsland,on this time,thesetripsmakeupahigherproportionof during otherpeaks,butwithfewertaxisontheroadat significantly higherthanthevolumesatairports taxi pick-upsoccureachhour,onaverage.Thisisnot 6PM tomidnightonSundayevenings,around1,250 airport representabout8%ofalltaxipick-ups.From where taxitrafficisgenerallylow,whenpick-upsatthe ups. TheweeklypeakoccurslateonSundayevenings, peaks rangefromrepresenting4%to7%ofallpick- 5:30AM andintheeveningaround4:30PM,these At theairports,dailypeaksoccurinAMaround ups occurinQueens. between 4:30AMand6:00AM,about5-6%ofallpick- are locatedinNorthwesternQueens.Mostmornings AM shift,likelyduetothefactthatmosttaxigarages share ofpick-upsreachesitspeaksatthestart taxi pick-upsonaverageforthishour).TheQueens between 1:30AMand2:30AM(representingabout1,800 when Brooklynpick-upsmakeup8%ofall average weeklypeakoccursearlySundaymornings peaks overnight,usuallybetween10PMand5AM.The usual. TheBrooklynshareofpick-upsreachesits airports makeupahighershareofallpick-upsthan day wherepick-upsinBrooklynandQueensatthe pick-ups occur.However,thereareafewtimesof Manhattan continuestobetheprimaryboroughwhere Looking attrippatternsbytimeofdayandweek, Staten Islandwith0.8%. followed byQueenswith1.5%,theBronx0.9%,and share isBrooklyn,where3.1%ofalltaxipick-upsoccur, occur intheseareas.Theboroughwiththelargest airports isscarce:intotal,about6.2%ofallpick-ups pick-ups. Taxiactivityintheboroughsoutsideof the airports,whichtogetheraccountfor3.5%ofall area withthehighestpercentageofpick-upsisat 90.3% oftaxipick-upsoccur.AfterManhattan,the Yellow taxiactivityiscenteredonManhattan,where iprs3.5% 100.0% 1.5% 0.8% 3.1% 0.9% 90.3% New YorkCity Airports %ofallTaxi Staten Island Queens Brooklyn Bronx Manhattan Borough Pick-ups published bythePortAuthorityofNewYorkandJersey. Passengervolumesatairportsfromannualandmonthly AirportTrafficReports 1 dia Airport of allpassengersarrivingtoordepartingfromLaGuar- From 2011to2013,yellowtaxisserve,onaverage,26% taxis servealargeportionofallairportpassengers. to orfromtheairportrepresent5%ofalltaxitrips, from theNewYorkCityairports.Notonlydotaxitrips Taxis areanimportantmodeoftransportationtoand and Sundaymorningsbetween4:30AM5:30AM. in theBronxpeakatabout3%ofalltripsonSaturday between 5:00AMand5:30AM,onaverage.Tripsending AM, around21%ofalltaxitripsendattheairports peak intheAMbetween4:30AMand6:30AM.OnMonday tween midnightand3:00AM.Drop-offsattheairports per hourendinQueens,onaverage,forSaturdaysbe- all drop-offsonSaturdayat5:15AM.Around1,650trips weekly averagepeakindrop-offsrepresenting13%of Queens, drop-offpeaksoccuratsimilartimes,witha taxi tripsendinBrooklyneachhour,onaverage.In Saturdays betweenmidnightand3:00AM,around3,100 levels earlymorningsbetween2:00AMand5:00AM.On average, onSaturdaysat4:45AM,reachingsimilar ending inBrooklynpeakatabout18%ofalltrips,on drops afewpercentagepoints. 2013, theshareofairportpassengerstravelingbytaxi airports. InJulyandAugustofeachyearfrom2011to Some seasonalityexistsfortaxitraveltoandfromthe age ofabout11%allpassengers). carries anequalshareofairportpassengers(anaver- the E,J,andZsubwaylinesLongIslandRailroad, station ontheAsubwaylineandJamaica travels betweentheterminalsandHowardBeach all arrivalsanddepartures.TheAirTrainatJFK,which 1 . AtJFKAirport,taxisserveabout10%of Source: NYC TLC TPEP Trip-sheet data, 2011-2013; PANYNJ Annual and Monthly Airport Traffic Reports, 2011-2013 Reports, Traffic Airport Monthly and Annual PANYNJ 2011-2013; data, Trip-sheet TPEP TLC NYC Source: 30% 30% 20% 20% 25% 25% 10% 10% 15% 15% 5% 5% 0121 2013 2012 2011 2013 2012 2011 JAN JAN FEB FEB MAR MAR APR APR MAY MAY Percentage ofAirportPassengersArrivingorDepartingby JUN JUN JUL JUL

AUG AUG or SEP SEP OCT OCT NOV NOV DEC DEC JAN JAN FEB FEB MAR MAR APR APR MAY MAY JUN JUN JUL JUL AUG AUG SEP SEP OCT OCT NOV NOV

2014 Taxicab Fact Book DEC DEC JAN JAN FEB FEB MAR MAR APR APR MAY MAY JUN JUN JUL JUL AUG AUG

SEP SEP

OCT OCT JFK AIRPORT JFK AIRPORT LAGUARDIA 6 for fuel counting forhourlyexpenses,including$1.43perhour 3AM tojustover$44forThursdaysat10PM.Afterac- revenue rangesfromaround$26forWednesdaysat by timeofdayandweek.Averagehourlygross The averagerevenuetakeninbyataxidrivervaries September 2012. to anincreaseintherateoffare,whichtookeffect $11.98. Thisincreaseofaveragefaresismostlydue an increasefrom2012,whentheaveragefarewas The averageyellowtaxifarein2013was$13.40, ShallerConsulting,“TheNewYorkCityTaxicabFact Book,”March2006. 3 Nationwide comparisonsfromtaxifarefinder.com 2 gov) economy of29MPG,andthe2013 averagegaspriceof$3.602pergallon(fromeia. Assumesanaverageof11.5milestravelledperhour, thetaxifleetaveragefuel 1 expensive thanthenationalaverage,however even afterthe2012fareincrease.NewYorkismore San Francisco,andJose.Thistrendholdstrue, York waslessexpensivethanBoston,LosAngeles, a ten-mileride,itranked47th.Ineachcategory,New a five-milecabride,NewYorkcameinat46thandfor a one-milecabridewithanaveragefareof$6.31.For largest metropolitanareas,NewYorkranked42ndfor to taxifaresnationwide.Inastudyofthenation’s60 York taxifareranksrelativelyinthemiddlecompared ing oneofthecity’sbusesortrains,averageNew While arideinNewYorktaximaycostmorethantak- Taxi FaresinNYCComparedtoOtherCities in tipssincethebasefortipisnowhigher. increase inlate2012,meaningdriversaremakingmore 18%. Thistippercentagepersistedevenafterthefare stant forthelastfewyears,holdingatanaveragetipof Tipping bytaxipassengershasremainedrathercon- Tipping cash, as55%ofalltripsarepaidbycreditcard. ing withacreditcardismorepopularthanpaying credit cardhasgrownsteadilysincethen.Today,pay- less than20%ofalltrips,andthesharetripspaidby taxis inlate2008,passengerspaidbycreditcardfor time whencreditcardreadershadbeeninstalledinall in late2008,notaxisacceptedcreditcards.Atthe Before TPEPsystemswereintroducedtoallyellowtaxis sponsored benefits. bus drivers,taxidriversdonotreceiveemployer- drivers. Itisimportanttonote,however,thatunlike per hour,whichfallsinthemiddleofrangefortaxi Statistics, busdriversmakeanaverageofabout$21 10PM. Incomparison,accordingtotheBureauofLabor from $14forWednesdayat3AMto$31Thursdays $9.58 to$11.58perhour,hourlynetrevenueranges more meteredtaxicabs. coming in11thoutof14majorU.S.citieswith1,300or York cabfareatthetimewasslightlybelowaverage, represents achangefrom2006,whentheaverageNew 7 1 andamortizedleasepaymentsrangingfrom 3 2 . This Source: NYC TLC TPEP Trip-sheet data, 2008-2013 data, Trip-sheet TPEP TLC NYC Source: Source: NYC TLC TPEP Trip-sheet data, 2013 data, Trip-sheet TPEP TLC NYC Source: Source: NYC TLC TPEP Trip-sheet data, 2013 and estimates of amortized hourly vehicle lease payments and gas expenses gas and payments lease vehicle hourly amortized of Monthly AveragePercentageofTripsPaidbyCreditCard estimates and 2013 data, Trip-sheet TPEP TLC NYC Source: Average DriverFareRevenueperHour(GrossandNet) $30.00 $30.00 100% $50.00 $50.00 $35.00 $35.00 $20.00 $20.00 $40.00 $40.00 $25.00 $25.00 $45.00 $45.00 80% 60% 90% $10.00 $10.00 30% 50% $15.00 $15.00 20% 40% 70% 10% $5.00 $5.00 0820 0021 022013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 O U E H R A SUN SAT FRI THU WED TUE MON 12 AM SUN SAT FRI THU WED TUE MON 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM

4 PM 4 PM

8 PM 8 PM CREDIT CARD USAGE CARD CREDIT NET REVENUE/HOUR NET REVENUE/HOUR GROSS Source: NYC TLC TPEP Trip-sheet data, 2012 data, Trip-sheet TPEP TLC NYC Source: Average PercentageofTaxisOccupiedbyTimeDay Average NumberofTaxisontheRoadbyTimeDay Percent ofShiftsStartedbyTimeDay Source: NYC TLC TPEP Trip-sheet data, 2012 data, Trip-sheet TPEP TLC NYC Source: Source: NYC TLC TPEP Trip-sheet data, 2012 data, Trip-sheet TPEP TLC NYC Source: 10,000 20% 100% 12,000 13,237 10% 8,000 6,000 15% 80% 60% 90% 30% 50% 2,000 4,000 20% 40% 70% 5% 10% O U E H R A SUN SAT FRI THU WED TUE MON O U E H R A SUN SAT FRI THU WED TUE MON

12 AM SUN SAT FRI THU WED TUE MON 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM Single-Shifted Medallions Double-Shifted Medallions 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 8 PM

12 AM 12 AM 12 AM (15-minute increments) 4 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM 12 AM (15-minute increments)

4 AM (15-minute increments) 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 12 PM 4 PM 4 PM 4 PM 8 PM 8 PM 8 PM 12 AM 12 AM 12 AM 4 AM 4 AM 4 AM 8 AM 8 AM 8 AM 12 PM 12 PM 12 PM

4 PM 4 PM 4 PM

8 PM 8 PM 8 PM

SHIFT STARTS SHIFT TAXIS OCCUPIED TAXIS TAXIS on the ROAD the on TAXIS any single15-minuteinterval). a shiftinthesamehour(andnomorethan4%start more than10%ofsingle-shiftedowner-driversbegin clustered shiftstarttimesfoundinthefleetmodel).No their shiftsatstaggeredtimes(insteadofthemore sistent basis.Thosetaxisthataresingle-shiftedstart of allmedallionsoperateforonedailyshiftonacon- single-shifters areararitytoday,asonlyaround10% shift providesasourceofadditionalincome.True anyway, sinceleasingouttheirvehicleforasecond of thesemedallionschoosetooperatefortwoshifts double-shifting requirements,manyoftheowners Although independentmedallionsdonothavethesame shifts inthe6:30-7:30PMhour,onaverage. morning shift,28%offleetvehiclesbeginweekdayAM to adegree,butlesssothantheeveningshift.In alone. Themorningshiftstarttimesarealsoclustered hour, withover10%startinginjustthe5:00-5:15block model starttheireveningshiftsinthe5:00-6:00PM when onaverage,39%ofvehiclesoperatedunderthis AM andPMshifts.Thisisespeciallytrueonweekdays, start theirshiftsaroundacentralizedtimeforboththe operated fortwoshiftseachday.Fleetvehiclestendto TLC Rulesrequirethatallmini-fleetmedallionsmustbe about 49% ofavailabletaxisare occupied. of availabletaxisare occupied,onaverage,andat4AM, when barscloseinNYC. Atmidnightonweekends,56% nights, peaksoccuraround midnightandagainat4AM, occupancy isaround62%.OnFridayand Saturday the shiftchange(between6PMand7PM), theaverage pancy isaround56%.ForthePMrushhours following rush hours(between8AMand9AM),theaverage occu- occur mostlyatpeaktraveltimes.Forweekday AM Aside fromthesespikes,otherareasofhigh occupancy during thesehours. 6PM eachday.Onaverage,64%oftaxisareoccupied of availabletaxisthatareoccupiedbetween4PMand she needsone.Thereisadailyspikeinthepercentage effect onapassenger’sabilitytohailtaxiwhenheor between 4PMand6PMseemstohaveaquantifiable els atnoon.Thelargenumberoftaxischanginghands service levelsatthistimedrop33%fromlev- road dropsconsiderably.Onanaverageweekday, 5PM) eachday,thenumberofavailabletaxison At thetraditionalPMshift-changetime(from4PMto shifts runningwithabout67%ofalltaxis. number ofavailabletaxisfortheentireweek,withboth and PMservicerunsat82%).Sundayshavethelowest is notamorningAMrushhour(AMservicerunsat71% tern ismoreexaggeratedforSaturdayswherethere shift keeptheirtaxisoutlaterintothenight.Thispat- available inthePMshift(85%),anddrivers Friday mornings(79%onaverage),butmoretaxisare range between81-85%.Fewertaxisareavailableon from 80-82%ofalltaxisontheroadandPMshifts from TuesdaythroughThursday,whereAMshiftsrange PM shift.Similarpatternsofserviceexistforshifts and anaverageof77%alltaxisontheroadfor average of72%alltaxisontheroadforAMshift available cabsthanotherdaysoftheweek,withan On average,Mondayshiftstendtohaveslightlyfewer considerably bytimeofdayandtheweek. The numberoftaxisavailableforservicevaries Taxis ontheRoadandTaxiOccupancy 2014 Taxicab Fact Book 8 Place of Birth

Egypt 4.4% 2.8% United States 5.9% Haiti 9.6% 6.5% China 3.1% 1.9% 5.9% Dominican Republic Pakistan Ecuador Bangladesh 1.3% 13.2% 1.0% 23.1% 19.5% 7.2% 6.9% 6.8%

India

Top 6 Countries 9.3% 5.1% % of Yellow Taxi Drivers % of FHV Drivers

Source: NYC TLC Licensing Data, September 2013

Where Drivers Come From UPSTATE NY 2% TLC-licensed drivers come from all five New York City 2% boroughs, 31 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, and more than 175 countries around the world. A hand- ful of these countries have only one driver in the fleet, whereas other countries have tens of thousands. BRONX 13% The highest concentration of yellow taxi drivers comes from Bangladesh, with over 10,250 drivers. Drivers 22% from Bangladesh now represent 23.1% of all yellow taxi drivers. Pakistan comes in second with 5,850 yellow MANHATTAN taxi drivers (about 13.2% of all yellow taxi drivers). NEW JERSEY This represents a shift from 2005, when the highest 7% concentration came from Pakistan (14.4%), and Bangla- 6% 10% desh was second at 13.6%. The concentration of drivers 5% QUEENS coming from the U.S. and associated territories has LONG ISLAND also decreased from 9.1% in 2005 to 6.0% today. 43% 29% 3% For FHV drivers, the number one place of birth is BROOKLYN 4% the Dominican Republic. Drivers from this country represent 19.5% of all FHV drivers (over 9,000 drivers 23% in total). The second highest concentration of FHV 24% drivers comes from the U.S., representing 9.6% of all FHV drivers (about 4,500 drivers). STATEN ISLAND Where Drivers Live 2% 3% About 88% of TLC-licensed drivers live within the five % of Yellow Taxi Drivers boroughs that make up New York City. A plurality of % of FHV Drivers yellow taxi drivers live in Queens (about 43%). After Queens, the most popular boroughs are Brooklyn (23%), the Bronx (13%), Manhattan (7%), and Staten Island (2%). In comparison, FHV drivers are more Place of Residence spread out throughout the five boroughs, with 29% of Source: NYC TLC Licensing Data, September 2013

9 Age Distribution of Yellow Taxi Drivers Gender Distribution of Yellow Taxi Drivers 85+ 80-84 75-79 70-74 Female 65-69 1% 60-64 55-59 50-54 45-49 40-44 35-39 Male 30-34 99% 25-29 20-24 Under 20 0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0% 8.0% 10.0% 12.0% 14.0% 16.0%

Age Distribution of FHV Drivers Gender Distribution of FHV Drivers 85+ 80-84 75-79 70-74 Female 65-69 4% 60-64 55-59 50-54 45-49 40-44 35-39 Male 30-34 96% 25-29 20-24 Under 20 0.0% 2.0% 4.0% 6.0% 8.0% 10.0% 12.0% 14.0% 16.0%

Source: NYC TLC Licensing Data, September 2013

drivers in Queens, 24% in Brooklyn, 22% in the Bronx, youngest age allowed by TLC Rules), to the oldest, who 10% in Manhattan, and just 3% in Staten Island. turned 94 in August 2013. The average age for a New York City yellow taxi driver is 46 years old, up from Among those drivers who do not live in New York City, 44 years old in 2005. For FHV drivers, the average most live in New Jersey (around 6,300 or 6% of all age is 47 years. Looking at the age distributions for drivers) or in New York State on Long Island (about 4%) yellow taxi and FHV drivers, a larger share of yellow or in Upstate NY (2%). Less than one percent of all taxi drivers are younger in age than FHV drivers, with drivers live elsewhere. about 21% of yellow drivers under 35 years old and just 19% of FHV drivers. The largest age cohort for both Who Drivers Are groups of drivers is those between 50 and 54 years of age. Around 14% of yellow taxi drivers and 15% of FHV Although female drivers have been behind the wheels drivers fall into this age group. of New York City cabs since the 1940s,1 the taxi industry continues to be nearly all male. This trend has held firm for many, many years. Around 49,500 (98.9%) of today’s yellow taxi drivers are male, whereas just 536 are female. The percentage of female FHV drivers is slightly higher, with a total of around 2,300 female drivers (just under 4% of all FHV drivers).

TLC-licensed drivers range in age from 19 years (the 1 Feeney, Michael J., “Meet Gertrude Hadley Jeanette, New York City’s 1st female cab driver,” The New York Daily News, 1 April, 2011. http://www.nydailynews.com/ new-york/uptown/meet-gertrude-hadley-jeannette-new-york-city-1st-female-cab- driver-article-1.119418

2014 Taxicab Fact Book 10 Age Yellow Taxis serve around 600,000 passengers every day in New York City. They serve a broad spectrum of Over two-thirds of taxi passengers are 35 or under, people, men and women who are young and old, poor 71 or older with 35% of passengers reporting that they are 12% and rich. However, taxi passengers are disproportion- 51 to 70 younger than 20 years old, while another 35% report ately younger and more affluent than the population of 5% 20 or younger being between 21 and 35 years old. While these age NYC as a whole and much closer socio-economically to 35% groups are also the largest citywide at 26% and 25%, 36 to 50 respectively, they are overrepresented in the taxi Manhattanites. 13% passenger population. Those who are 70 and older are In surveys conducted on passenger-facing monitors also overrepresented at 12% of passengers but just 8% in the back of taxis, 49% of taxi passengers reported of the city’s population. Passengers between 36 and 50 that they were male and 34% reported that they were 21 to 35 years old are underrepresented at 13% of the riding female (17% declined to answer). This ratio of males to 35% public and 21% of the total population, as are passen- females is somewhat higher than the gender breakdown gers who are between 51 and 70, who make up 20% of for the city as a whole, where men make up 47.5% of the city’s population but just 5% of taxi passengers.1 the city’s total population and women make up 52.5%. Source: NYC TLC In-Taxi Passenger Surveys, 2012-2013

Sex of Passengers Income 42% of taxi passengers have an annual household income of $100,000 or higher while 11% have an annual Prefer not to answer household income of less than $10,000. Household 17% annual incomes of $10,000 to $50,000 and $50,000 to $100,000 represent 12% and 18% of taxi passengers, Under $10K $100K or higher respectively (17% declined to answer.) Citywide, 24% 11% 42% of the population has a household income of $100,000 or more per year and 11% have an income of less than $10K to $50K $10,000. In Manhattan, where most taxi passengers live 12% and work, 37% have an income of $100,000 or higher, $50K to $100K which may explain in part why the income bracket is so 18% overrepresented.2 49% 34% Source: NYC TLC In-Taxi Passenger Surveys, 2012-2013

Car Ownership

A small majority (52%) of taxi passengers own their No Yes own cars, which is higher than overall car ownership 48% 52% rates in New York City, where only 44% of all house- holds own at least one car.3

Source: NYC TLC In-Taxi Passenger Surveys, 2012-2013

17% Driver’s No Yes 45% 55% More than half (55%) of New York City taxi passengers License have a driver’s license.

Most passengers do not wear seatbelts in the city’s taxicabs. Only 38% of passengers reported they were MALE FEMALE PREFER NOT Seat No Yes using the taxi’s seatbelts while taking the passenger TO ANSWER Belts 62% 38% survey. Seat belt usage overall in New York State is 4 Source: NYC TLC In-Taxi Passenger Surveys, 2012-2013 about 90%. 1 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Census Summary File 1, Table P6 Two-thirds of New York taxi passengers own or use 2 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Table S1901 No a Smart phone. 55% say they would like the option of 3 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2012 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, Smart 33% Yes using their phone to locate taxicabs, and 54% say they Table B25044 Phones 67% would pay for their rides with their phone if they could 4 Source: U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics; Seat Belt Use in the States, U.S. do so. Territories, and Nationwide, 2005-2012; July 2013. Available at http://www-nrd.nhtsa. Source: NYC TLC In-Taxi dot.gov/Pubs/811809.pdf Passenger Surveys, 2012-2013 11 Types of Medallions Average Annual Medallion Sale Prices

Medallions are small metal plates attached to the hood $1,400,000 UNADJUSTED of a taxi, certifying it for passenger pick-up throughout Independent Medallions the city. Yellow taxicabs with medallions are the only Mini-Fleet Medallions vehicles authorized to pick up passengers by street hail $1,200,000 anywhere in New York City. There are two different types of taxi medallions, an independent medallion and a $1,000,000 mini-fleet medallion. Each has its own set of rules and requirements and transfers at a different price point. $800,000 An independent medallion is a class of medallion taxicab license in which the owner may only own one $600,000 medallion, and often has an obligation to drive a mini- mum number of shifts annually. Owners of independent medallions typically operate as owner-drivers who $400,000 own both the medallion and the taxi vehicle. Income for owners of independent medallions is derived from $200,000 the fares and tips received from passengers less the cost of owning and maintaining a vehicle and medallion. Often, these owner-drivers will lease their taxis to a 1975 1970 2013 2010 1995 1985 1990 1980 2005 second driver for additional income. 2000

A mini-fleet medallion is a class of medallion taxicab license that must be owned in groups of at least two. $1,400,000 INFLATION-ADJUSTED The owners of mini-fleet medallions own multiple Independent Medallions Mini-Fleet Medallions medallions and many maintain a fleet of taxi vehicles $1,200,000 that are leased to drivers on a per shift basis. Incomes for fleet owners are derived from lease fees less the cost of operating and maintaining the vehicle. $1,000,000 The Haas Act $800,000 Until the mid-1930s, the taxi industry of New York City had no regulation. There were an unspecified number $600,000 of taxis and there wasn’t a set standard for the fares that could be charged by a driver. This changed in 1937 with the enactment of the Haas Act, which established $400,000 the medallion system. $200,000 Originally it set a limit of 16,900 taxi medallions.

However, that number was decreased to 11,787 after 2013$ World War II. It remained unchanged until 1996 when 1975 1970 2013 2010 1995 1985 1990 1980 2005 it was increased by 133 medallions to a total of 11,900. 2000 As of now, there are 13,437 total taxi medallions in New Source: NYC TLC Medallion Sales Database and Consumer Price Index York City. When medallions first began being traded after World that about 58% of the existing medallions are mini-fleet War II under the Haas Act, the average price was medallions while 42% are independent medallions. The Haas Act classified the two types of medallions in $2,500. It has grown exponentially since then. The av- use today: independent and mini-fleet erage annual price of independent medallions increased Historical Medallion Prices 260% between 2004 and 2012 while the average annual It also set up a nominal “60/40” ratio of mini-fleet to price of mini-fleet medallions increased 321% over the Medallion prices have increased during periods of independent medallions same time period. When accounting for inflation, prices medallion sales in part due to the fare increases that have accompanied them. During these periods of sales, The Price of a Medallion still increased 214% for independent medallions and 265% for mini-fleet medallions. The annualized return independent medallion prices rose 22% in 2004 and 22 on investment (ROI) for a medallion over this time in 2005. Mini-fleet medallion prices rose 22% in 2004 TLC does not set the price of a medallion; instead, the would be about 19.5%. In comparison, over the same and 21% in 2005. In 2006, independent medallion prices market sets the price of the medallion. The price of a time, the ROI for a similar investment in the S&P 500 rose 14% while mini-fleet medallion prices rose 27%. medallion depends on a number of factors. would yield a 3.9% annual return. Medallion prices rose in 2007 as well by approximately 11% for independent and 19% for mini-fleet. • Taxi fares and tips The value of a mini-fleet medallion is much greater In the Future • Demand for taxi service than the value of an independent medallion. In 2013, the • Availability and cost of taxicab medallion financ- average price of an independent medallion (approxi- ing mately $967,000) was about 84% of the average price Two-thousand wheelchair-restricted medallions are slated to be sold over the next several years. Already, • Market for the medallion of a mini-fleet medallion (approximately $1,150,000). This price differential may be explained by differences 200 mini-fleet wheelchair-restricted medallions have • Anticipated return on the investment to acquire a in the medallions, such as a requirement for many been auctioned off at an average price of $2.27 Million medallion as compared to other investments independent medallions that the owner must drive the (mini-fleet medallions are sold in pairs, making the • Cost of operating a taxi taxi, or the fact that mini-fleet medallions are often average price $1.13 Million per medallion). held by large fleet companies which can more easily lease a taxi for two shifts each day (and thus see a higher return on their investments). TLC data indicates 2014 Taxicab Fact Book 12 A typical New York City cab will drive around 70,000 miles and carry more than 10,000 passengers in a single year. It is important that all medallion cabs and for-hire vehicles receive regular safety and emissions The Process inspections to ensure the safest ride possible for both passengers and drivers. The TLC’s inspection facility in Woodside, Queens, has been responsible for inspecting Each of the 13,237 yellow medallion taxis on the streets of New York City goes through a rigorous inspection process each and every regulated taxi vehicle operating in New three times per year. The cabs are equipped with 18 different sensors, each one of which is reviewed in the four-stage York City for more than 20 years. inspection process.

The Facility 1 Before the inspection facility opened its doors, the The vehicle’s VIN (its Vehicle Identification Number) is scanned into the system, and taxi inspection process was completely decentralized. the owner’s information must match the information on file for the VIN when the car Inspections would take place in 17 different garages is checked in for inspection. and gas stations around the city. While TLC officers would observe these inspections, they had little control over the rigor of the process and there was very little uniformity across locations. On September 1, 1989, the 2 inspection process for the entire fleet of regulated ve- The vehicle’s emissions are tested using the On-Board Diagnostic System – Version hicles became centralized at an official TLC inspection 2 (ODBII), the standard test for motor vehicles in New York State. The computer test facility in Woodside, Queens. The site inspects upwards provides a read-out of the emissions control systems in the vehicle to ensure they of 400 cars per day, and conducted over 51,000 are working properly. primary inspections last year.

The center is committed to honesty within the taxi 3 industry. Security cameras are installed throughout The cab’s meter is inspected to ensure it is running at the proper rate. The car the facility, and supervisors carefully monitor everyone runs in place for one mile while a computer tracks its metered fare, ensuring that who comes in and out of the inspection area. On the customers are not overcharged and that drivers get the full fare . If the meter runs enforcement side, officers have ramped up their efforts too slowly or quickly, it must be recalibrated before the car is allowed back out on to keep unlicensed taxis off the streets in recent years, the streets. seizing 7,830 vehicles in the last year, up from 3,000 the previous year and 1,000 in the year prior. 4

With tens of thousands of drivers coming through In this stage, the car’s safety features are inspected, from the lights and locks to the center every day, the Woodside facility has been the seatbelts and assist straps. Inspectors check and double-check each individual described as a “little U.N.” Inspection reports and component to ensure maximum safety for both passengers and drivers. To check violation sheets are translated into twelve different the brakes, inspectors drive the car forward and stop very suddenly on a brake pad, languages, but even that falls short of what inspectors which can test all three brakes (front, rear, and axle) at once, need in order to communicate with drivers from all 5 over the world. Often, they rely on signs, symbols, or one-on-one meetings with mechanics to physically point Finally, inspectors check the car’s undercarriage for leaks and irregularities. Any to the part of the car that needs to be fixed. problem here, no matter how small, is considered a violation and must be repaired and rechecked at the inspection facility before the car and driver can get back to work. Looking Ahead Frequency of Inspections at Woodside With 18,000 new Boro Taxis set to hit the streets in the next several years, Woodside is preparing for tens of thousands of additional inspections each year. 1x To handle the influx, inspectors have converted one inspection lane into an “express re-inspection” lane Black Cars, Liveries, Limos every 2 years* and plan to make further adjustments to the inspection process to cut down on the time each car spends in the facility.

The staff at Woodside knows that time out on the streets is crucially important to cab drivers, and 2x so they pride themselves on making the inspection Boro Taxis every year process as quick and efficient as possible. A typical inspection takes only 15-20 minutes, and the average wait time for an inspection today is 55 minutes – down from over an hour in 2012 and from over two hours in years prior. 3x every year Yellow Taxis *Black Cars, Liveries, and Limos must be inspected 3 times a year, but these inspections can be performed at any DMV-licensed facility. 13 The 2014 Taxicab Fact Book was a collaborative effort from the staff at the Taxi & Limousine Commission Office of Policy and External Affairs David Yassky, Commissioner Ashwini Chhabra, Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Planning Emily Gallo, Deputy Chief Operating Officer Dawn M. Miller, Director of Research and Evaluation Project Team Rodney Stiles, Senior Policy Analyst Lindsey Siegel, Special Projects Analyst Jeffrey Garber, Policy Analyst Hillary Neger, Coro Fellow Asm Ullah, Intern Graphic design by Rodney Stiles Facts and figures compiled from a variety of analyses performed by staff in the TLC Policy and External Affairs, Special Projects, and Safety and Emissions Divisions

2014 Taxicab Fact Book 14